Peer Community Specialist

Department of Public Health – Seattle & King County Family Ways program is seeking an Education Specialist (Peer Community Specialist) for its U.S. born Black/ African American community group. Peer Community Specialists support pregnant people, and parenting families with children up to age five. Services are provided to 3 specific focus communities: U.S. born Black/African American, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. All services are culturally relevant, participant-centered and strengths-based. The Peer Community Specialists will work in a team environment and practice care coordination with other disciplines. The team includes a Public Health Nurse, Nutritionists, Social Worker and Administrative Support staff. Peer Community Specialists will be responsible for partnering with program participants and families in creating a care plan and supporting them through pregnancy or parenting. Note: This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term‑Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six months. Commitment To Equity and Social Justice Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures. The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro‑equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts. We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti‑racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. To learn more, please visit Work Schedule Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, however, hours may vary depending on community events, client/family need and staff coverage. Some weekday evenings and weekend work will be required, as well as the ability to drive and travel to multiple locations throughout King County. The position requires flexibility in working face‑to‑face with clients in community settings (libraries, community centers, homes) This is a non‑exempt position and is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible. Work Location South Park- Public Health 7272 W. Marginal Way S., Seattle WA 98108.? Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.? The Family Ways team works in a hybrid model, with a minimum of 3 days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County‑issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Partner with program participants and families to develop care plans and goals Identify social and health systems resources Identify and connect participants to community resources Set and achieve personal and family wellbeing goals Conduct educational and informational learning opportunities for staff, clients, community groups and other professionals Document interactions with program participants in record‑keeping systems, acquire necessary paperwork, and respond to calls, emails, or requests in a timely manner Collaborate with program participants, families, communities, and King County programs to support access to services and referrals Foster and coordinate community and agency partnerships Represent Family Ways program at community events Minimum Qualifications Knowledge of: Theories and practices in health promotion Education and behavior‑change programs Skills in effective communication: Interpersonal communications skills Oral and written communications skills Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member Demonstrated skills and abilities working collaboratively with clients and families, community‑based groups, service providers, other staff and program Ability to meet deadlines Ability to be flexible and adjust to changing needs Regular and reliable attendance Development of effective working relationships Desired Qualifications Partnership and community engagement Experience working with communities to build partnerships and gain understanding of unique community needs. Demonstrated knowledge and ability of how to engage authentically with program participants and families. Experience as Community Health Worker, Navigator, or Community Organizer. Racial Equity, and Social Justice (RESJ) knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices. Experience working with communities striving to overcome systemic racism. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member. Demonstrated skills and abilities working collaboratively with clients and families, community‑based groups, service providers, other staff and programs. Who May Apply All qualified Applicants The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process) Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process) (Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above). Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Necessary Special Requirements The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience. The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation and but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. For more information on our selection process, please refer For tips on interviewing, please visit Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law. Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work. Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations. Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions. When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action‑oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here . King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. #J-18808-Ljbffr King County